Fork and spoon need not apply

"Rain at Sally's" 18 x 24 acrylic on canvas by Kerry Steele

My friend Sally Kelly, recently painted a swirly, pink painting as an ode to my style.

Sally Kelly

I was flattered and, of course, challenged to take a stab at her style. It never dawned on me that she never uses a brush. She uses a palette knife.

Sally Kelly

 I initially tried a landscape in rather impatient long knife swipes. That was just awful. I looked a bit closer at one of Sally's paintings (I have 8) and saw the short diagonal knife strokes. The irony here is that I thought to myself, "I don't have the patience for all that." 

The thought of spending time and energy concentrating on a new technique did not appeal to me at that moment so I picked up a small "rescue canvas". A rescue canvas is a painting that took a direction that I did not like and ends up unfinished in a stack with other undesirables. The plan was a sailing/ nautical theme. They are popular in Virginia and Wizzie Broach had a a few clients ask if I had any more.

"Nothin' but a breeze" 10 x 20 acrylic on canvas by Kerry Steele

Much to my surprise, the technique lends itself to subtle suggestions and its really fast. I had a sailboat in no time, although it does not photograph well.

I actually use an entirely different knife technique than Sally does but I kind of like the effect.

What say you?